intimidate

To imtimidate is defined as to frighten someone or to make someone be in awe of you, especially if you do so in order to get what you want.

(verb)

An example of intimidate is to act very tough to scare your enemies.

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See intimidate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb intimidated, intimidating

  1. to make timid; make afraid; daunt
  2. to force or deter with threats or violence; cow

Origin: < ML intimidatus, pp. of intimidare, to make afraid < L in-, in + timidus, afraid, timid

Related Forms:

See intimidate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates
  1. To make timid; fill with fear.
  2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats.

Origin:

Origin: Medieval Latin intimidāre, intimidāt-

Origin: : Latin in-, causative pref.; see in-2

Origin: + Latin timidus, timid; see timid

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Related Forms:

  • in·timˈi·datˌing·ly adverb
  • in·timˌi·daˈtion noun
  • in·timˈi·daˌtor noun

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